Richmond upon Thames

Richmond upon Thames' population expanded between the last two censuses. Data from the census also show there were changes in ethnicity, housing tenure and religion.

The population reached nearly 190,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Richmond upon Thames increased by 8.5%, from about 172,000 to 187,000.

The addition of just under 15,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Richmond upon Thames was home to, on average, 23 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across London

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across London, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Richmond upon Thames

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Richmond upon Thames increased by one year, from 37 to 38 years.

This affluent suburban area had a higher average age than London and became slightly younger than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The fall in age was because of an increase of about 5,500 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 20 and 29 years decreased by just over 900.

About 16% of people in Richmond upon Thames are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Richmond upon Thames by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Richmond upon Thames

The number of people in Richmond upon Thames from the White ethnic groups remained close to 160,000 between the last two censuses. However, as a percentage of the total population, this represented a decrease from 91% to 86%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across London (from 71% to 60%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Richmond upon Thames from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 8,000 in 2001 to about 14,000 in 2011 (from 4.6% to 7.3%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 3,800 to about 6,800 (from 2.2% to 3.6%).

About 3,100 people (1.3%) said they were from the Other ethnic groups (Arab or any other ethnic group), up from just under 2,200 in 2001 (1.6%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between ethnic groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Richmond upon Thames decreased by 5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, London and Richmond upon Thames by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Richmond upon Thames that rented privately increased from 17% to 22% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in eight (13%) households lived in social housing, compared with 12% in 2001. The percentage of Richmond upon Thames households that owned their home decreased from 69% to 64%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of London (from 15% in 2001 to 25% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Richmond upon Thames increased by 5.1 percentage points

Percentage of households in Richmond upon Thames, London and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health fell in Richmond upon Thames, but at a slower rate than all other London boroughs, except Barking and Dagenham and Newham.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

Every local authority area across London saw a fall in the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad, as the regional average fell from 8.3% to 5.0%.

Across London, the proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell from 8.3% to 5.0% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in Hounslow (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Richmond upon Thames) fell from 8.1% to 4.7%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Richmond upon Thames decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Richmond upon Thames, London and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Richmond upon Thames

The percentage of Richmond upon Thames residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 6.7% to 6.3% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 1.8%, while the percentage of Richmond upon Thames residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 92%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of London (from 5.8% in 2001 to 5.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across London

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in London and the average across England, March 2011

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